Caleb Gattegno

Choking Explained?

I’m taking a graduate course at my public charter school in the Bronx, and we are reading a book by Caleb Gattegno titled In the Beginning There Were No Words: The Universe of Babies. Chapter 2 describes all the things a human baby must learn in the first few days after birth. The following paragraph sent …

Kindergarten Reading Pandemonium

Actually, this started in our pre-K class. Six of the pre-K kids read very well now, and I work with them and their teacher, Ms. Velez, once a week on reading. To my mind, the test of whether young children can read is not showing them a picture book of a bunny and having them …

Conscientious 2nd Grade Students

Here’s why I enjoy working with the students and teachers at my public charter school in the Bronx: The school’s pedagogy, including its unusual materials and techniques, sparks the kids’ intellectual excitement and investment, with minimal input from the teachers and surprising output from the students. I’m fortunate because as staff trainer, I get to …

Why I Love My School

A colleague who works in our kindergarten recently wrote the following about an experience with one child (name changed): Worked with Oliver on beginning sounds of words (something he and a few of his buddies are still working on and wondering about): Oliver has a small picture card of a snake and he is looking at …

Parkinson’s Poker Face Pays Off Pedagogically

As a teacher trainer in a charter school which uses a particular pedagogy, I find my Parkinson’s poker face pays off. Below are two YouTube clips which show what I mean. They also reveal how I feel about education and my role as a teacher. But first some background. My school was set up to train its …

Learning

Here’s a quote: “Through learning, one becomes more oneself.” Does this have any meaning for you? Leave your response and a short explanation in the comment section below. I’ll add my own thoughts at the end of the weekend. I’ll also provide the source of the quote. Note: You can think about what this means if …